The people should choose: May’s deal or stay in the European Union

Let me come clean. I am a Eurosceptic who voted to Remain. Eurosceptic because I saw close-up the frustrating and often infuriating bureaucracy in Brussels. Remain because global challenges require global solutions and small countries, no matter how plucky, really can’t successfully go it alone.

I have a great deal of sympathy with Theresa May, trying to square an unsquareable circle, but her deal only covers the transition from full membership of the EU to a period of continuing negotiation. It explains why so many of the deeply-committed Eurosceptics in the Conservative Party have not compromised and have made her life so miserable. They are very clear that the real question is: are we to remain close to the European Union or come out completely?

In reality, we either have to remain in the EU with a seat at the table or leave and live with the consequences.

The “Malthouse Compromise” is no compromise at all. It suits the hard Brexiteers, but those sympathetic to remaining who have signed up to this, such as former Cabinet ministers Nicky Morgan and Damian Green, have been conned. Equally, those on the Labour benches who believe there is a way forward in Norway Plus are not likely to receive accolades either from the electorate who voted out or from the advocates of a second referendum.

Remaining in the EEA and taking rules from Europe, paying the money but not sitting at the table (Norway+) would infuriate the electorate.

That is why, with great reluctance, I think if MPS can’t find a way to satisfy Remainers or Brexiteers, it has to come back to those who made the decision to leave in 2016.

This means MPS passing Mrs May’s Withdrawal Deal, but with the proviso it is quickly put to a referendum, asking: “Do you agree to go forward on the basis of the Government’s negotiated transition deal?”

If the answer is no, then Britain would remain in the European Union.

This should not be a huge challenge for ardent Brexiteers who believe they won the argument. Even those who voted to Remain would acknowledge the simple slogan “They didn’t hear you the first time, tell them again” would have a real resonance.

For ardent Europhiles, the chance to put a clear choice to voters is obviously attractive. But above all, it would settle what happens in the lead-up to the end of the transition period.